Companies on Department of Environment's Radar

The Department of Environment will conduct annual non-compliance and monitoring inspections of companies trading under Schedule Two of the Endangered and Protected Species Act 2002.

Acting director Senimili Baleicakau enlightened this point stakeholders during the Endangered and Protected Species (EPS), Environment Impact Assessment (EIA), and Waste and Pollution Control Roundtable in Nadi yesterday.

She said the department had issued non-compliance and prohibition notices to several commercial and industrial facilities.

“Under the Environment Management Act 2005 and the Environment Management (Waste Disposal and Recycling) Regulations 2007, commercial and industrial facilities are required to hold a permit for waste management in their facility,” she said.

The department has been issuing non-compliance and prohibition notices to several commercial and industrial facilities in the central, eastern, western, and northern divisions that were operating and discharging/disposing of waste into the environment without compliance with the waste permitting system under the law.

In the past financial year, the department issued 29 non-compliance notices to facilities operating without a permit.

During the same period, the department issued 13 prohibition notices to facilities with operations imposing immediate threats or risks to the environment.

The department will continue to raise awareness and conduct business roundtables and training to ensure full compliance by all commercial/industrial facilities operating in Fiji.

Story by: mereleki.nai@fijisun.com.fj